Presser-foot mechanism for sewing machines



H. C. MOULTON.

PRESSER FOOT MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1919.

1,434,399. I Patented Nov. 7,1922.

g-4. J n V 40%;} 8Hf" 37 I8 4 9 S v nQ-IL Fig. 5. m 73 \n-ven-Tor. Hariey C. MouiTon I oil, the base layer,

Patented Nom 7, i922 HARLEY c. MOUL'ION, or noncrrnsrnn,

FELLING MACHINE COMPANY, or or MAINE.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB BUSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION TO ARBETTER,

PRESSER-FOOT MEGHANISIW FOR SEWING IEACHINES.

Application filed October 20, 1919.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HARLEY C. MoULToN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Dorchester, county of Suffolk, State of hlassacl'uisetts, have invented an Improvement in Presser-Foot Mechanism. for Sewin;- ll l achines. of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like charactors on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in prcsser foot construction and the principal object thereof is to provide a presser foot which will automatically adapt itself to accommodate various thicknesses of materials and various types of stitching.

More specifically the invention relates to improvements in presser foot contructions for sewing machines having a curved oscillating needle and complemental, stitch forming mechanism located above the work support adapted to fell a superimposed layer upon a base layer of material, the base layer being presented to the needle by a bender which is thrust up- .verdly against the undersurface of the base layer. thus presenting a bight of said layer in the path of the needle and the object of the invention is to provide a yielding presser which will automatically adapt itself to diferent thicknesses of material and will yield sufficiently under the action of the bender to permit the base layer to be presented to the needle so that a uniform depth of stitch in said layer will be insurech said yielc gn'csser foot being provided with guiding means for positioning the edge of the superimposed layer properly in respect to the needle at all times.

l'l'eretofore a stationary portion of the oresser foot and a stationary guide have een used to direct the edge of the supe imposed layer into the path of the needle end order to positively guide the edge o he layer it has been found necessary to ct the needle throat to so small an area t was very difficult for the bender to oree a light seam sutliciently into the needle throat to enable the needle to penetrate prop- VVhere the work co1nprised heavy cloth or very heavy seams, or had alayerof canvas between the layers of cloth it was quite impossible to force the base Serial No. 332,028.

layer sufficiently into the needle throat to enable the needle to enter the base layer.

In order therefore to enable heavy cloth to stitched the needle throat was required to be enlarged by moving the stationary portion of the presser foot and also the guide for the superimposed layer far enough to allow the seams and thicker goods to pass. This resulted in interfering with the proper guiding of the edge of the super imposed layer and practically destroyed the usefulness of the machine for felling lighter materials. A By providing the presser foot with a yielding shoe to engage the superimposed layer and by securing an edge guide to said yieldable shoe means are provided which will permit the bender to thrust the base layer nnihilinolv into the path of the needle and the yielding shoe and guide will immediately return the superimposed layer into its proper relation to the path of the needle as soon as the bender has been depressed after the stitch in the base layer is made. W hen. a heavy seam or abnormal thickness of cloth is forced into the needle throat the yielding shoe and guide will be forced upwardly suiiiciently to allow for the passage of the seam. thereby permitting the soft and pliable portion. of the base layer to be presented in the path of the needle and when the bender is retracted the superimposed layer will be automatically forced downwardly by the yielding shoe, and the guide which engages the edge of the superimposed layer will hold said edge in its proper relation to the path of the needle.

Where heavy work or work containing heavy seams is being sewed the shoe and guide will be continuously reciprocated by the movement of the bender, while in operating upon relatively thin materials the yielding shoe and guide will remain in substantially stationary position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a yielding presser foot which be removed from operative position either for inspection of the Work or to enable other kinds of stitching to beperformed upon the work.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing a presser foot with a yieldable shoe having a convexedly curved, rearward .ly converging work engaging surface having near its junction with the heel of the presser toot a receding portion adapted to accommodate the goods which is forced upwardly by the needle during its emergence from the goods whereby the strain upon the goods caused by the passage of the needle therethrough will be eliminated.

Another object or the invention is to proride a presser toot having guiding grooves for the reed dog of an upper feeding mech anism, and a further feature of the inven tion consists in providing a presser foot of this character with a stripper for detaching the goods from the feed dog as the latter is raised "from its engagement with the goods before beginning a return movement in its cycle of operation.

Another feature or the invention consists in providing a presser foot of the character described with a stripper having means for retaining the arm ofthe bobbin case which prevents the rotation of the latter.

Other objects and features 01 the invention will more fully appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings will be particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings is adapted for use in connection with the well known Arbetter type of sewing machines for telling a superimposed layer upon a base layer of material, for pad.- ding, and other operations, but it will he understood that my invention may be asse ciated with other types of machines to which it may be applicable.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a presser toot embodying my invention a portion ot one of the screws for securing the same to the head of the machine being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the minor toe portion.

Fig. 3 is a vertical substantially median sectional view looking toward the inner edge of the minor toe.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation similar to Figure 1 but showing; the shoe raised to inoperative position. 7

The presser foot illustrated in the accompanying drawing is adapted to be associated with a sewing machine of the Arbetter type, which comprises a bed having a standard rising therefrom carrying an arm which overhangs the bed and has at its end a head supporting stitch forming mechanism including a curved oscillating needle and complementary stitch forming mechanism usu ally in the form of a rotating hook or loop taker. In the machine to which the particular presser toot illustrated herein is adapted. the feeding of the goods is per formed by an upper feed which is carried by the head, and which forms the subject matter of my co-peuding appl cation No. 332,026 filed October 20. 191.9.

The preferred form or presser toot which is shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a heel 1 having forwardly extending major and minor toes 2., 3 and a rearward extension 4. Ears 5 and 6 extending upwardly from the major and minor toe portions respectively are provided. with screw holes by means of which the r 'esser "toot may be secured rigidly to the hook bracket of the sewing machine or to any other suitable support. The major and. minor toe portions are. respectively provided with grooves 7. 8 extending upwardly from their under surfaces partially through portions of said presser toot adapted to receive and guide the members ot the feed dog which are provided. with serrated taces for engaging the goods.

The major and minor toe portions are spaced apart to provide the usual needle throat 9 and the front edge of the heel has a recess 10, the lower walls of which are outwardly bevelled or curved to form an extension of the needle throat at the needle path adapted to permit the superimposed layer to pass more readily beneath the presser foot. The clearance thus provided also prevents the needle thread from being clamped between the goods and the presser toot and thereby insures the proper action of the take-up in setting the stitch.

In order to provide the presser foot with throat openings which will. adapt the presser foot to operate properly upon goods of various thicknesses a plate 11 is detachably secured by screws 12, to the major toe portion so that plates of different lengths may be substituted in accordance with the size Oil: throat opening required. This plate has the usual rearward. extension l3 terminating in front of the needle throat and provided with an edge guide 14- to direct and sustain the needle during its penetration of the superimposed. layer.

The guide 14: also serves to lift the ed ge of the superimposed layer and in co-operation with the edge guide which embraces the edge ofthe superimposed layer to direct the edge properly into the path of the needle.

here plates ll of different lengths are employed to provide throat openings oi difi'erent area it is desirable and in fact necessarythat the bender shall be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in the direction of the line of stitching in order that the bender may operate centrally of the throat opening to force the goods into the path of the needle and means for thus adjusting the position the bender are disclosed in my pendi application, llo. 332026 filed (Potoher 2 i919.

'ot desirably provided cl: is a :e at its enos in bosses or Hang lin upwmrdly "from the heel portion and acts to prevent needle thread from being thrown aw I the cast oil" surface o the hook in one a stitch is missed.

in order to provide for the pas of seams and other irregu 'rities in the super imposed layer throuthe needle throat when the goods advanced by the Feeding mechanism. and also to provide ablingigthe needle properly to base layer when thick mat the superimposed layer struction is provided w yielding shoe forming one or the walls 0 needle throat, the shoe prefer being;- 1' Vided with a guide whir'h is adiusiab y mounted upon it.

y reason oil this cousti'iuJtio: a relatireiy large needle tl 'oa ope-nin m y he proride l without an oss in the e quidinn; mechanism for the c c posed layer. because it a l wry seam. forced through the needle bender the yieldingshoe and forced upwardly allowing a. su .ucieni, s'pac for the seam and pwmittinn the hender to present the base i in the path oil. the needle and when the bender is depressed the superimposed layer will. be automatically :t'orced down againstthe base layer by the shoe and the edge of the layer properly positioned by he guide in the path oi. the needle when the latter is vibrated laterally to take a stitch in said layer as is common in telling machines of the lirbetter type.

in the preferred constructiini dis losed herein the shoe is in the Form of :1 section 1.6 of the minor presser toot and nds from the inner front end of the pressei Foot to the front of the heel. The inner edge and. l *er face oil. the shoe l6 presentr-a a n'mndel or conyexedly curved surface 11" converging .earwardly toward the needle 31? rear end and adjacent its junctioi the shoe has a receding portion i. 1 adapted to receive the expanding goods of the superimposed layer which are forced onwardly by the needle as it emerges from superimposed layer. This rlearance enahles the goods to be so manipulated by the needle that no strain imposed upon them which will cause a xvi-inkling? or checking of the su perimposed layer.

The shoe 16 as illustrated herein is 1 vided with a laterally extendin arm having an inclined edge surf; cs 20. flat top 21 and a side 22 at right angles to the top. The sun faces 21 and 22 conform to similar surfaces 23, 24 upon the ear 6 of the minor toe portion of the presser foot. A spring 25 which is secured to the inclined edge 20 by a screw 26 and a dowel Ql'fhas an oliset portion it? adapted to engage the upper edge 23 or the vertical edge of the ear 6. This spring 216;? to hold the shoe work when in operative with it end t against the position in Fig. l flat upper edge to la" .3; 16 ma cootin nient nit will ..erer fai. 4e urn the work to its proper position whetl bender is depressed d tie needle oscillating in its penetrating stroke in the superimposed layer.

l i hen shoe is raised. to inoperative position as illustrated in F 6 the end of the spring by engaging: the vertical edge 24- of the ear 6 will retain the shoe in such position. The shoe in o be provided with a suitable handle for rating the same from operative to inoperative posi on. a conrenien'l; handle being in the form oi a plate secured to the inclined surface 20 oil? the arm .39 by the screw 26 which holds the spring 25 in place.

In order to present the edge of the super iinposed layer properly to the needle 9.. guide 29 having curved end 30 adapted to embrace the superimposed layer and converging rearwardly toward the needle path is adjustably connected to the shoe 16 so that yields with the shoe and maintains its enement with the 01': the superiin aosed l. er at all times, thereby insuring the sitioningzf of the superin posed layer properly in respezt to the needle.

any convenient means may he provided for securing the guide to the shoe 6. ts illustrated herein the guide is provi d with an upwardly extending flange 31 having' a longitudina y extending slot "2 which re ceives a pin extending laterally iron: the arm 19 of the shoe. The flange is adjiustably secured in place by means of a set screw 4 extending through the slot 32 and seated in t le arm 19. -The guide 959 therefore may be adjusted transversely of the line oi": stitching; and may be so positioned as to determine the anount of goods which are forced beyond the needle path by th action of the under face 18 of the shoe 16. Hence the guide may he properly positioned to handle a superinr posed layer of any thickness. lit also serves to determine the position oi the stitching in relation to the edge of the superimposed layer.

The arm 19 of the shoe 16 may be conveniently pivoted upon the cylindrical portion of the set screw 36 which the ear 6 oi he presser foot to the hook bracket of the sewing machine.

Where an upper feeding mechanism is employed to advance the. goods during the stitching more or less difficulty'has been en countered by reason of the adhesion of the goods to the feed dog as the feed dog is raised from the goods and moved forwardly to its next position to engage the goods. In order to prevent this the present presser foot is provided with stripper which is adapted to detach the goods from the feed dog asthe latter is raised. The stripper which is illustrated herein comprises the plate 37 which is secured by screws 38 to the rear end of the extension 4 and desirably has side flanges 39, 40 extending into recessed portions in the sides of the endof the rearward extension l. of the presser foot heel. The stripper is also provided with a rearwardly extended member 41 which projects between broadened. portions of the feed dog (as illustrated in my co-pending application aforesaid) and serves to disengage the goods from said broadened portions.

The flanges 39, 40 desirably project a short.

distance above the upper surface of the rearward extension l of the heel. and provide a socket 42 to receive the arm upon the bobbin case which prevents it from. rotation. here, as in the Arbetter machines the rotary hook or loop taker is inclined relatively to the bed plate of the machine the upper surface of the en-tension 4 is inclined as illustrated in Fig. 2, but, of course. it may be made in any form required to co-operate properly with the stitch forming mechanism of the machine to which it is adapted.

It will be understood. that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is illustra tive and not restrictive and that various modifications in form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a presser foot comprising a rigid heel and toes extending therefrom, the space between said toes providing a needle throat; a shoe yieldably mounted on one of said toes adjacent said needle throat adapted to permit seams to pass readily through said needle throat.

2. In a presser foot having a rigid heel and major and, minor toes extending therefrom. the space between said toes providing a needle throat; a shoe pivotally mounted upon said minor toe located adjacent said needle throat and resilient means operable to retain said shoe in operative orin inoperative position.

3. In a presser foot for sewing machines for sewing a superimposed layer upon a base layer of material comprising a rigid heel and toes extendlng therefrom and spaced apart to form a needle throat; a yieldable shoe 011 one of said toes located adjacent said.

needle throat and a guide on said shoe adapted to embrace the edge of the superimposed layer.

L. In a presser foot 101* sewing machines for sewing a superimposeo r upon a base layer of material, compris a rigid heel and toes extending therefrom and spaced apart to form a needle throat; a yieldable shoe on one of said toes located adjacent said needle throat and a guide adjustably secured to said shoe adapted to embrace the edge of the superimposed layer whereby the edge of said superimposed layer may be directed in a predetermined relation to the needle path.

5 In presser foot for sewing machines f r felling a superimposed layer upon a base layer of material. comprising major and minor toes spaced apart to form a needle throat; a shoe pivotally mounted upon said minor toe located adjacent said needle throat resilient means operable to retain said shoe in operative or inoperative position and a guide having slot and screw connection with saidv shoe and adjustable thereby relatively to the needle path.

6. In a presser foot for sewing machines for felling a superimposed layer upon a base layer of material, comprising a heel and major and minor toes extending therefrom and spaced apart to provide a needle throat; ears extending upwardly from said toes adapted to be attached by screws to the head of the sewing machine, a shoe having an arm pivotally mounted upon the screw for securing the minor toe to the sewing machine head, a spring secured to said shoe having its end resting upon the surface of the ear of said minor toe portion and operating nor mally to retain the shoe yieldably in operative positionand when the shoe is raised to retain. it out of operative position.

7. In a presser foot having a heel and forwardly extending major and minor toes spaced apart to provide a needle throat. a shoe yieldably connected to said minor toe having a rounded work engaging surface convexedly curved and converging rearwardly toward the needle path and operating to force the edge of the superimposed layer toward the needle path and a receding portion adj acent its junction with the heel of the presser foot to receive the goods which is forced upwardly by the needle it emerges from the goods.

8. In a presser foot having a heel and forwardly extending major and minor toes spaced apart to provide a needle throat. a shoe yieldably connected to said minor toe having a rounded work engaging surface convexedly curved and converging rearwardly toward the needle path and operating to force the edge of the superimposed layer toward the needle path;

9. A. presser foot for sewing machines comprising a heel and major and minor toes provided with grooves extending upwardly from their under surfaces partially through portions of said toes and acting to provide enclosed guideways for a feed dog.

10. A presser foot for sewing machines comprising a heel and major and minor toes provided with grooves extending upwardly from their under surfaces to provide guideways for a feed dog and a stripper extending rearwardly from said heel intermediate or" said guideways adapted to detach the goods from the feed dog.

11. A presser foot for sewing machines comprising a heel and major and minor toes provided with grooves extending upwardly from their under surfaces to provide guideways for a feed dog and a stripper detachably secured to said heel intermediate of said guideways having a narrow rearwardly extending member adapted to detach the goods from the feed dog.

12. A. presser foot for sewing machines comprising a heel having a rearward extension, 21 forwardly extending toe and means for securing the said presser foot to the head of the sewing machine, a stripper detachably secured to the rearward extension of said heel and having sides extending upwardly beyond the upper surface thereof to provide a holder for the tail of the arm of the bobbin case, and a rearwardly extending stripping member having its lower surface in the same plane as the lower surface of the heel.

13. In a presser foot having a rigid heel and major and minor toes extending therefrom, the space between said toes providing a needle throat; a shoe pivotally mounted on said minor toe located adjacent to and forming a section of one of the walls of the needle throat, resilient means operable to re tain said shoe in operative or in inoperative position and a handle connected to said shoe for moving the same into and out of operative position.

14-. In a presser toot having a rigid heel and major and minor toes extending therefrom, the space between said toes providing a needle throat, a shoe pivotally mounted upon said minor toe located adjacent said needle throat and resilient means for retaining said shoe in operative position and a plate detachably secured to said major toe and providing a needle guide and forming the front wall of the needle throat, whereby by substituting plates or dilferent length the throat opening may be varied.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ecifioation.

ARLEY G. MOULTON. 

